Short-Term and Long-Term Debt (Long-Term Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 20,149	$ 18,646
Surplus notes | Fixed-rate notes:
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	342	342
Surplus notes subject to set-off arrangements | Fixed-rate notes:
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	8,284	7,484
Surplus notes subject to set-off arrangements | Floating-rate notes:
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	2,330	2,265
Senior notes | Fixed-rate notes:
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	11,573	10,084
Mortgages | Fixed-rate notes:
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	103	104
Mortgages | Floating-rate notes:
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	253	241
Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Line of Credit, Noncurrent	300	300
Junior subordinated notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	7,578	7,575
Subtotal
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	30,763	28,395
Less: assets under set-off arrangements
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	10,614	9,749
Debt denominated in foreign currency | Mortgages | Fixed-rate notes:
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	43	43
Debt denominated in foreign currency | Mortgages | Floating-rate notes:
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	52	53
Prudential Financial
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	18,920	17,430
Prudential Financial | Junior subordinated notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	7,520	7,518
Subsidiaries | Junior subordinated notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	58	$ 57
Maturing in 2040 | Senior notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 500